Berlin goves and gauntlets

[major bill]

The Army of the Potomac and soldiers in most rear areas during the Civil War were required to wear Berlin gloves on dress occasions. Berlin gloves were white gloves with and elastic band on the wrist.Gauntlets were worn by Calvary officers and some enlisted cavalrymen. My question is; were most "Berlin" gloves still being imported from Germany during the Civil War or were they being made in the United States?

How long did 'white" gloves remain white?

 

[Package4]

The Army of the Potomac and soldiers in most rear areas during the Civil War were required to wear Berlin gloves on dress occasions. Berlin gloves were white gloves with and elastic band on the wrist.Gauntlets were worn by Calvary officers and some enlisted cavalrymen. My question is; were most "Berlin" gloves still being imported from Germany during the Civil War or were they being made in the United States?

How long did 'white" gloves remain white?

I am not sure that this is the case, according to "Uniform Regulations, 1861" G.O. No. 6 from the Adjutant Generals Office 3/13/61 the only individuals that must wear gloves were officers:

Gloves
56. For General Officers and Officers of the General Staff and Staff Corps - buff or white.
57. For Officers of Artillery, Infantry, Cavalry, Dragoons, and Riflemen - white.

According to Langellier, it wasn't until 1870 that enlisted men were required to wear the Berlin gloves and 30,000 were ordered and shipped to the field in 1872.

Langellier explains many of the posed plates were taken post war and show non-coms wearing the gloves.

 

[major bill]

I do see in photographs many pre war and early war militias and early war regiments wearing white gloves.

 

[Package4]

I do see in photographs many pre war and early war militias and early war regiments wearing white gloves.

I agree and attribute that to militia and state organizations that wanted to look more martial on parade. Keep in mind that militia organizations would often be invited to various city, state ceremonies, in addition to funerals and exhibitions prior to the war. Seeing the famous 7th NY parade down the streets of Cincinnati or other such town would engender a similar appearance.

The regulations of '61 did not call for enlisted to be issued gloves, that doesn't mean that a state could not supply them. They are exceedingly rare in collecting circles today, though do pop up occasionally.